Paula R. Barnes
Queen Creek
Summary
Equitas Health, Inc. Legal Operations Specialist (Fully Remote)
Experienced with operational process improvements and streamlining workflows for efficiency. Utilizes strong problem-solving skills and collaborative approaches to meet organizational goals. Track record of effective resource management and implementing best practices for operational success.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Legal Operations Specialist (Fully Remote)
Equitas Health, Inc.
10.2023 - Current
- Field and manage legacy contract request pull for cross-functional business partners
- Perform audits of contract operation processes/procedures and manage associated clean-up initiatives based on findings
- Lead the development of processes and technology to support new contracting workflows
- Lead matter management and knowledge management initiatives
- Facilitate knowledge sharing across the legal department and other departments
- Implement strategies to capture and leverage institutional knowledge
- Evaluate, implement, and manage legal technology solutions
- Identify opportunities for process improvements and efficiencies within the legal department
- Develop and implement best practices to enhance operational efficiency for the legal department
- Monitor and report on key performance indicators to drive continuous improvement
- Communicate effectively with stakeholders to ensure transparency and alignment on legal operations initiatives
- Support the legal department’s budgeting, procurement and financial management activities
- Provide operational support and project management support to the legal team as needed
- Maintain communications interface with customer procurement officials (buyers/contract officers) through written and verbal means
- Receive and respond to customer inquiries, coordinate with other departments
- Develop / maintain support files, logs, contracts files and other company documentation
- Regulatory Compliance
- Manage the end-to-end contract lifecycle of clients, including drafting negotiations, and administration of various contracts
- Develop contract templates and standard operating procedures to streamline the contract management process
- Conduct contract reviews to identify risks and opportunities for improvement and negotiated favorable terms and conditions
- Collaborate with legal counsel and business stakeholders to ensure contracts aligned with organizational objectives and mitigated legal risks
- Acts as focal point for all contractual communications and commitments to customers or subcontractors
- Maintains documentation and files in accordance with applicable processes
- Utilizes data to help forecast department needs in the areas of investment, resources, and staffing
- Ensures equity data tool requirements are met and are in compliance
- Contract lifecycle management; oversee the administration of contracts, ensuring that all parties fulfill their obligations and that contracts are executed in a timely manner
- Establish SLA reporting with operations team and client, work with Operations team to deliver as agreed upon with the client
- Review and interpret information to proactively identify and resolve issues
Contract Management/Legal Ops
Equitas Health, Inc. via Robert Half Legal
07.2021 - 10.2023
- Company Overview: (Consultant) (Converted to W2 with Client)
- Legal Operations Management
- Vendor management
- Legal technology proficiency
Associate, Legal, Risk & Compliance
Timont Real Estate Advisors, LLC
01.2016 - 07.2018
- Worked closely with legal, finance, management and directors on various matters involving review of contracts per corporate approval matrix, and corporate policies
- Drafted, negotiated and contract management of a variety of technology and other transactional agreements, including vendor services and consulting agreements, software development agreements, software license and support agreements, software-as-a-service and cloud related agreements, master services and servicing agreements, content licensing agreements, statements of work, non-disclosure agreements, and amendments
- Managed over 400 entities, prepared and file corporate organizational records (domestic & foreign) amendatory, certificates of secretary, and withdrawals/dissolutions
- Reviewed, and revised various types of transactional agreements in connection with real commercial estate management and leasing
- Examples of documents would be including AIR leases; commercial retail leases; license agreements; estoppel certificates; SNDA’s; letters of intent; settlement agreements; lease guarantees; lease commencement agreements; telecommunications agreements and other real estate related transaction documents
- Researched and interpreted lease language in consultation with Attorneys, and provided information and guidance related to real estate and lease matters, as requested by property managers, brokers, or principals of the company
- Reviewed and interpreted lease terms from broker-provided deal spreadsheets and LOI’s prior to drafting lease agreements
- Facilitated and tracked routing and signature of various documents/forms/lease documents
- Drafted closing documents, including deeds, bills of sale, assignments of leases, estoppel certificates, indemnification agreements, mortgage releases, title affidavits, lien waivers, etc
Project Coordinator – Immigration Dept.
Fisher & Phillips LLP
10.2011 - 10.2014
- Lead electronic I-9 webinars/training and provided demonstrations to potential clients of the electronic I-9 database
- ¬ Provided audits of historical I-9 records to ensure compliance of the records; generate E-Verify Compliance reports and assist over 250 I-9 clients nationally in managing their E-Verify account
- Identified and resolved I-9/E-Verify compliance issues on paper or electronically
- Acted as a liaison between HR professionals and Partner (Lookout Services) to address various situations as it relates to employment and E-Verify compliance; investigates electronic I-9 issues and to ensure proper company compliance
- Produced training materials for web-based training as appropriate; amend and revises materials as necessary in order to adapt to changes that occur
- Sets-up company accounts and designate unlimited number of users and restrict specified access level
- Coached and counseled supervisors and managers regarding policy interpretation and proper procedures
- Drafted immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, monitored immigration expiration dates, managed caseloads processed and distributed essential documents filing and secured H1B visas, L-1, TN, E1/E2, E3 as well as prepared and monitored Immigrant/permanent resident processes filings, including PERM labor certifications
- Explored alternative courses of action to accommodate management needs and considerations and works with key management officials in a manner that inspires respect for resulting conclusions
- Provided unlimited support fielding questions and issues from clients related to E-Verify administration and systems
Office Manager / R.E. Paralegal
ICON Property Trust Corp.
10.2010 - 10.2014
- Fully directed the management of a high-volume community housing development organization ¬ Conduct on-boarding for all new hires to educate on Firm policies and promote exciting growth opportunities for long-term employees
- Coordinated multiple office functions that focused on scheduling, electronic billing, reimbursements, and collections
- Performed all due diligence requirements
- Updated company portfolio loan summary database
- Responsible for daily billing, ordering and receiving
- Drafted loan documents, UCC’s, and coordinated preparation of documents for closing
- Recruited, screened and interviewed applicants for clerical positions
- Managed all accounts receivable functions
- Created office procedures and staff job descriptions and collaborated with management to create an office handbook
- Worked with management team to attain daily, monthly and yearly goals
Education
Bachelor of Science - Technical Management, Human Resources Management
DeVry University
Skills
- Paralegal/Legal Operations/Compliance/Contract Administrator
- Contract Management
- Contract Administration
- Insurance
- Contract Review/Negotiation
- Business-friendly paralegal with experience across Operations, Client Service, Strategy, Boards/Management and more
- Cost Proposals
- Quality Assurance & Compliance
- Request for Proposal
- Non-Disclosure Agreements
- Master Services Agreements
- Statements of Work
- Procurement
- SaaS Agreements
- Software/IT Licensing
- Real Estate
- Commercial Leases
- Estoppel Certificates
- SNDAs
- Corporate Governance
- Business Immigration
- Negotiation
- Team Management
- Research
- Supervising Experience
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Operational efficiency
- Planning and coordination
- Cross-functional communication
- Project management
- Operations coordination
- Process planning
- Process documentation
- Case management
- Experience in leadership
- Cost reduction strategies
- Time management
- Excellent communication
- Written communication
- Process improvement
- Analytical thinking
- Task prioritization
- Multitasking Abilities
- Organizational skills
- Process analysis
- Interpersonal communication
- Active listening
- Quality assurance
- Idea development and brainstorming
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving abilities
- Reliability
- Team collaboration
- Team leadership
- Effective communication
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Self motivation
- Interpersonal skills
- Customer relationship management
- Goal setting
- Professionalism
- Strategic planning
- Time management abilities
- Adaptability
- Organizational development
- Workflow optimization
- Professional demeanor
- Risk management
- Performance management
- Contract negotiation
- Change management
- Vendor management
Timeline
Legal Operations Specialist (Fully Remote)
Equitas Health, Inc.
10.2023 - Current
Contract Management/Legal Ops
Equitas Health, Inc. via Robert Half Legal
07.2021 - 10.2023
Associate, Legal, Risk & Compliance
Timont Real Estate Advisors, LLC
01.2016 - 07.2018
Project Coordinator – Immigration Dept.
Fisher & Phillips LLP
10.2011 - 10.2014
Office Manager / R.E. Paralegal
ICON Property Trust Corp.
10.2010 - 10.2014
Bachelor of Science - Technical Management, Human Resources Management
DeVry University
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